To Be or Not to Be

PLOT:

A bad Polish actor is just trying to make a living when what should intrude but World War II in the form of an invasion. His wife has the habit of entertaining young polish officers while he’s on stage which is also a source of depression to him. When one of her officers comes back on a Secret Mission, the actor takes charge and comes up with a plan for them to escape.

REVIEW:

Ah, Mel Brooks! What a genius he is! To Be or Not to Be may not be an original masterpiece of his, as a matter of fact, this is a remake of a film from the 40s, but it is some good satirical comedy, which Brooks’ films are second to none (except maybe Airplane!)

I’m a little pressed for time, so here’s what worked.

Character chemistry. Mel Brooks’ films all have a great cast of characters. I liken them to a comedy troupe of sorts. They are used to each other’s timing, personalities, etc. Even with some new additions to the usual players, they are still on top of their game.

The jokes. In today’s so called “comedies”, the jokes are just so-so, but with a film like this they are hilarious.

The stage parts. I love how they really played up the parts where they are stage actors, especially as the credits roll. There is even a gag that bookends the film which I found to be a nice touch.

What didn’t work?

Story. As good as it was, there were times when I just got lost in what was going on.

Nazis. It seems that in almost every Mel Brooks movie, especially these earlier ones, he has to mention Nazis in every one of his films. For some reason, I think he even sneaks it into Spaceballs.

To Be or Not to Be isn’t the best film I’ve seen from Brooks, but it sure is an enjoyable one. I found myself laughing from beginning to end and wanting it to keep going even as the credit were rolling. While this isn’t the perfect film, I will highly recommend it. You won’t be disappointed!

3 1/2 out of 5 stars